Golf Pack

Abstract

Golf packs that provide a more supportive and ergonomic way to carry golf clubs and equipment. Exemplary golf packs include a back panel with an internal frame structure that is integrally connected to an elongate golf club container, as well as hip belt straps, shoulder straps, and sternum straps. In some embodiments, the golf pack may include a storage compartment that is similar to a backpack and that extends transversely from the elongate golf club container and that is designed and configured to store items in a location that is substantially aligned with and proximal to a user's torso.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf pack, comprising:
 an elongate container having an outer wall defining an inner cavity, a closed end, and an opposed open end in communication with the inner cavity for receiving golf clubs therethrough for placement in the inner cavity;   a back panel having a lower back portion, an upper back portion, and opposed sides, the back panel coupled to the container and extending transversely therefrom;   a strap system, including shoulder straps coupled to the upper back portion of the back panel and hip belt straps coupled to the lower back portion of the back panel, wherein the strap system is configured to secure the golf pack to a user with the lower back portion adjacent a user's lower back and the upper back portion adjacent a user's upper back; and   a storage compartment extending from the back panel and the container, the storage compartment having opposed sides, a front and a back, the back of the storage compartment formed, at least in part, by the back panel.   
     
     
         2 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the elongate container includes a top surface and the storage compartment includes a bottom end, wherein the bottom end of the storage compartment is sewn to the top surface of the elongate container. 
     
     
         3 . A golf pack according to  claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the top surface of the container is positioned below the lower back portion of the back panel, and a second portion of the top surface is aligned with or positioned above the lower back portion of the back panel. 
     
     
         4 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment is designed and configured to store items in a location that is substantially aligned with and proximal to a user's torso. 
     
     
         5 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment extends from the upper back portion of the back panel to the outer wall of the container. 
     
     
         6 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the back panel is sewn to the outer wall of the container. 
     
     
         7 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposed sides of the storage compartment include a recess sized and configured to receive a portion of the container. 
     
     
         8 . A golf pack according to  claim 7 , wherein the container has a central longitudinal axis, the container being disposed in the recess, the back panel and storage compartment secured to the outer wall of the container along a seam, wherein the seam extends at least about 45 degrees around the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . A golf pack according to  claim 8 , wherein the seam extends at least about 90 degrees around the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . A golf pack according to  claim 7 , wherein the container is disposed in the recess and extends through the storage compartment. 
     
     
         11 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the back panel and container each have corresponding respective central longitudinal axes, the central longitudinal axis of the container being at an angle between about 25 degrees and about 45 degrees from the central longitudinal axis of the back panel. 
     
     
         12 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the back panel includes at least one fabric layer and at least one rigid layer, wherein the at least one fabric layer is sewn to the outer wall of the container. 
     
     
         13 . A golf pack according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one rigid layer includes at least one of a rigid sheet of material extending across a substantial portion of the back panel and a rigid elongate member extending between the upper back portion and the lower back portion. 
     
     
         14 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from at least one fabric panel, the container further including at least one elongate structural member extending longitudinally in the container, the at least one elongate structural member having a length that, when installed, places the at least one fabric panel in tension. 
     
     
         15 . A golf pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the container includes first, second, and third fabric panels, further wherein the back panel and storage compartment are sewn to the first fabric panel to form a bottom surface of the storage compartment, and the second and third fabric panels are sewn to opposite ends of the first fabric panel to form at least a portion of the container. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a golf pack, comprising:
 providing a rigid back panel sized and configured to extend from an upper portion of a user's back to a lower portion of a user's back, the rigid back panel having shoulder straps and hip belt straps extending therefrom for securing the back panel to a user;   attaching fabric to the back panel to form a storage compartment having a bottom and at least one recess for receiving an elongate golf club container;   sewing a first fabric panel to the back panel and the bottom of the storage compartment; and   forming the first fabric panel into at least a portion of a container for storing golf clubs.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further including placing the at least one fabric panel in tension. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the placing the at least one fabric panel in tension includes installing at least one elongate structural member in the container to place the at least one fabric panel in tension. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the attaching step includes forming a storage compartment that extends across a majority of a length and width of the back panel that is sized and configured to store golf accessory items in a location that is substantially aligned with and proximal to a user's torso. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the sewing step includes sewing the first fabric panel to the back panel and the bottom of the storage compartment when the back panel and storage compartment are turned inside out, the method further including turning the storage compartment and back panel inside in before the forming step.